Safety reset key and needle assembly

Abstract

A needle assembly includes a mounting structure and a needle mounted on the mounting structure and extending outwardly from the mounting structure. The needle has a longitudinal axis, a sharp end and a central axial passageway. A safety shield is associated with the needle and includes a tubular housing having distal and proximal ends. The distal end of the housing has a funnel-shaped surface. A reset key is configured to engage the distal end of the housing. The reset key includes a support. A shaft extending from the support is adapted for inserting into the distal end the housing. The funnel-shaped surface guides the shaft into the housing to register the reset key with the safety shield.

1. A needle assembly comprising:
 mounting structure; 
 a needle extending from the mounting structure along a longitudinal axis, the needle having a sharp end and a central axial passageway extending along the longitudinal axis; 
 a safety shield moveable with respect to the needle for selectively covering the sharp end of the needle, the shield including a tubular housing having a funnel-shaped end surface opposite the mounting structure when the shield covers the sharp end of the needle, said surface leading to a central aperture that is aligned with the central axial passageway of the needle when the shield covers the sharp end of the needle; and 
 a reset key configured to engage the safety shield, the reset key comprising a shaft sized for inserting into the central aperture of the housing, the funnel-shaped end surface guiding the shaft into the aperture of the housing to register the reset key with the safety shield and the shaft with the central axial passageway of the needle to obturate the passageway; 
 wherein the tubular housing of the safety shield has an outer surface surrounding the funnel-shaped end surface; and 
 the reset key includes a shroud having an inner wall sized and shaped for receiving the outer surface of the tubular housing to center the safety shield in the reset key. 
 
     
     
       2. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the reset key includes a rib positioned inside a central opening defined by the inner wall of the shroud; and 
 the end surface of the safety shield has a slot sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving the rib to release an internal locking mechanism in the shield permitting the shield to move to uncover the sharp end of the needle. 
 
     
     
       3. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein:
 said rib is a first rib and the reset key includes a plurality of ribs including said first rib, each of said plurality of ribs being positioned inside the central opening defined by the inner wall of the shroud; and 
 said slot is a first slot and the end surface of the safety shield has a plurality of slots including said first slot, the plurality of slots being at least as numerous as the plurality of ribs of the reset key, each of said plurality of slots being sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving a corresponding rib of said plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       4. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the reset key includes a rib; and 
 the end surface of the safety shield has a slot sized, shaped and positioned for receiving the rib to release an internal locking mechanism in the shield permitting the shield to move to uncover the sharp end of the needle. 
 
     
     
       5. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein:
 said rib is a first rib and the reset key includes a plurality of ribs including said first rib; and 
 said slot is a first slot and the end surface of the safety shield has a plurality of slots including said first slot, the plurality of slots being at least as numerous as the plurality of ribs of the reset key, each of said plurality of slots being sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving a corresponding rib of said plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       6. A needle assembly comprising:
 mounting structure; 
 a needle extending from the mounting structure to a sharp end; 
 a safety shield moveable with respect to the needle for selectively covering the sharp end of the needle, the shield including a tubular housing having an outer surface; and 
 a reset key including a shroud having an inner wall sized and shaped for receiving the outer surface of the tubular housing to register the reset key with the safety shield, the reset key being configured to releasably engage the safety shield. 
 
     
     
       7. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the outer surface of the safety shield housing and the inner wall of the reset key shroud have complementary circular cross sections. 
     
     
       8. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein:
 the reset key includes a rib positioned inside a central opening defined by the inner wall of the shroud; and 
 the end surface of the safety shield has a slot sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving the rib to release an internal locking mechanism in the shield permitting the shield to move to uncover the sharp end of the needle. 
 
     
     
       9. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein:
 said rib is a first rib and the reset key includes a plurality of ribs including said first rib, each of said plurality of ribs being positioned inside the central opening defined by the inner wall of the shroud; and 
 said slot is a first slot and the end surface of the safety shield has a plurality of slots including said first slot, the plurality of slots being at least as numerous as the plurality of ribs of the reset key, each of said plurality of slots being sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving a corresponding rib of said plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       10. A needle assembly comprising:
 mounting structure; 
 a needle extending from the mounting structure to a sharp end; 
 a safety shield moveable with respect to the needle for selectively covering the sharp end of the needle, the shield including a tubular housing having an end surface opposite the mounting structure when the shield covers the sharp end of the needle, the end surface having a slot therein; and 
 a reset key configured to engage the safety shield, the reset key including a rib sized, shaped, and positioned for receipt in the slot in the end surface of the safety shield when the reset key engages the shield to release an internal locking mechanism in the shield permitting the shield to move to uncover the sharp end of the needle. 
 
     
     
       11. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein the internal locking mechanism is biased to prevent the shield to move to uncover the sharp end of the needle. 
     
     
       12. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 said rib is a first rib and the reset key includes a plurality of ribs including said first rib, each of said plurality of ribs being positioned on the end surface; and 
 said slot is a first slot and the end surface of the safety shield has a plurality of slots including said first slot, the plurality of slots being at least as numerous as the plurality of ribs of the reset key, each of said plurality of slots being sized, shaped, and positioned for receiving a corresponding rib of said plurality of ribs. 
 
     
     
       13. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 the plurality of ribs consists of three ribs; and 
 the plurality of slots consists of three slots. 
 
     
     
       14. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the ribs and slots are equally spaced. 
     
     
       15. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a radially extending blade. 
     
     
       16. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 the needle has a central axial passageway; 
 the end surface of the safety shield includes a central aperture that is aligned with the central axial passageway of the needle when the shield covers the sharp end of the needle; and 
 the reset key includes a shaft sized for inserting into the central aperture of the end surface of the housing to register the reset key with the safety shield and the shaft with the central axial passageway of the needle to obturate the passageway. 
 
     
     
       17. A needle assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein:
 the needle has a central axial passageway; 
 the end surface of the safety shield includes a central aperture that is aligned with the central axial passageway of the needle when the shield covers the sharp end of the needle; and 
 the reset key includes a shaft sized for inserting into the central aperture of the end surface of the housing to register the reset key with the safety shield and the shaft with the central axial passageway of the needle to obturate the passageway.